Eyokuqala KaSamuweli
7 Ngakho amadoda aseKiriyati-jeyarimi eza athatha uMphongolo kaJehova enyuka nawo afike awufaka endlini ka-Abhinadaba + esegqumeni, angcwelisa indodana yakhe u-Eleyazare ukuze igade uMphongolo kaJehova.
2 Kusukela osukwini uMphongolo owafika ngalo eKiriyati-jeyarimi, kwadlula iminyaka engu-20. Yonke indlu ka-Israyeli yabe isiqala ukufuna uJehova. *+ 3 USamuweli wayesethi kuyo yonke indlu ka-Israyeli: “Uma kuwukuthi nibuyela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu, + lahlani onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe + abaphakathi kwenu kanye nemifanekiso ka-Ashitoreti, + nikelani inhliziyo yenu ngokuphelele kuJehova, nikhonze yena yedwa, + khona-ke uzonikhulula esandleni samaFilisti.” + 4 Lapho ezwa lokho ama-Israyeli alahla oBhali nemifanekiso ka-Ashitoreti, abe esekhonza uJehova kuphela. +
5 Ngemva kwalokho, uSamuweli wathi: “Qoqelani wonke u-Israyeli eMispa, + mina ngizonithandazela kuJehova.” + 6 Ngakho baqoqana eMispa, bakha amanzi bawathulula phambi kukaJehova* bazila ukudla ngalolo suku. + Bathi: “Sonile kuJehova.” + USamuweli waqala ukuba umahluleli + kwa-Israyeli eMispa.
7 Lapho amaFilisti ezwa ukuthi ama-Israyeli abuthene eMispa, amakhosi amaFilisti + enyuka ayolwa nama-Israyeli. Lapho ama-Israyeli ezwa lokho, esaba ngenxa yamaFilisti. 8 Ngakho ama-Israyeli athi kuSamuweli: “Ungayeki ukusithandazela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuze asisize, + asisindise esandleni samaFilisti.” 9 USamuweli wathatha iwundlu elisancela walinikela njengomnikelo oshiswayo, + umnikelo ophelele, oya kuJehova; uSamuweli wacelela u-Israyeli usizo kuJehova, uJehova wamphendula. + 10 Ngesikhathi uSamuweli enikela umnikelo oshiswayo, amaFilisti asondela ukuze alwe no-Israyeli. UJehova wabangela ukuba lidume kakhulu + ngalolo suku, amaFilisti adideka, + ahlulwa phambi kuka-Israyeli. + 11 Amadoda akwa-Israyeli aphuma eMispa awajaha amaFilisti, awabulala kwaze kwaba seningizimu yeBheti-kari. 12 USamuweli wabe esethatha itshe + walimisa phakathi kweMispa neJeshana waliqamba ngokuthi i-Ebhenezeri,* ngoba wathi: “Kuze kube manje uJehova ubelokhu esisiza.” + 13 AmaFilisti anqotshwa kanjalo-ke, awaphindanga eza endaweni ka-Israyeli; + isandla sikaJehova saqhubeka simelene namaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSamuweli. + 14 Amadolobha ayedliwe amaFilisti ku-Israyeli nawo abuyela ku-Israyeli kusukela e-Ekroni kuze kube seGati, ama-Israyeli aphinde ayithatha indawo yawo kumaFilisti.
Kwakunokuthula naphakathi kuka-Israyeli nama-Amori. +
15 USamuweli waqhubeka nokwahlulela u-Israyeli ukuphila kwakhe konke. + 16 Unyaka nonyaka wayejikeleza aye eBhethele, + eGiligali + naseMispa, + ahlulele u-Israyeli kuzo zonke lezi zindawo. 17 Kodwa wayebuyela eRama, + ngoba umuzi wakhe wawulapho, nakhona wayahlulela u-Israyeli. Wakhela uJehova i-altare lapho. +